Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Without feedback, I'm still not convinced that I'm just talking to myself in podcast form. Please feel free to get in touch via email at radiobsots@gmail.com, Twitter, or leave a voice message on the Speakpipe page.

The title of this episode first came to mind back in July of 2016, shortly after the police killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. Since then, it was put on the back burner and I knew I wanted to use it eventually. After hearing that Brother Sterling's killers weren't being charged and then the police shooting of Stephon Clark in Sacramento, CA, as well as far too many incidences of 911 calls on my people for simply existing, it just made sense to put together a show during this moment in time...where Starbucks locations nationwide have to close for a day so that their employees can learn how to simply treat all people like human freaking beings.

I recorded the music mixes for the show back on April 4th, the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The first part deals heavily with police brutality. By extension, it also goes into what happens when Black people internalize the hatred that this nation has for us. Sometimes that hatred is thrust upon each other in both subtle and overt ways. The second part of the mix was inspired by the movie Black Panther, thinking about Africa, and wanting to make my own Wakandan soundtrack.

Keep in mind that I recorded the opening voice over about a month before the NFL ruling on protests protests while the National Anthem is being played. Seems like the longer I waited to release this episode, the more relevant it became. Seeing as how I prefer to not have to make episodes like these at all, I really wish that weren't the case.

Should there be someone in your life working through the confusion, rage, sadness, and (let's just call it what it is) PTSD that comes with being Black in America, please share this episode with them.

For the first time in Radio BSOTS history, a new year begins in BUCKWILD fashion. Honestly, I'm kinda surprised that this hasn't happened before. And seeing as how my 2018 has already proven to be challenging, it seems just as well that this show would premiere now rather than closing out 2017. Everything happens for a reason.

This show may take more personal turns this year. While that remains to be seen, I can remember just getting into podcasting back in 2005, holding the belief that the podcast should be the audio extension of the blog. I thought it should straddle the fence between the professional and the personal. Lately I've been feeling the need to tell stories through music, to find the narrative that weaves together all these songs that I've been coming across. I also know that I need to speak from the heart more when I have something to say. I pick my words carefully (not enough people do), but I ought to share them when it comes time to say something.

I don't know what this year will bring for Radio BSOTS. And neither do you. That makes us even. Let's find out together.